Nelson was nominated by President Rutherford B. Hayes on January 7, 1879, to a seat vacated by John Lowell.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 10, 1879, and received commission the same day.

Born on March 4, 1827, in Haverhill, New Hampshire,[1] Nelson, one of twelve children of John and Lois Leverett Nelson, attended Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire.

[2] A serious accident which permanently injured his knee ended his engineering career and while in physical recovery, he began to study law with Judge Francis H.

[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 10, 1879, and received his commission the same day.